A Pilot's History of the Roanoke

Posted on Tue Feb 25th, 2020 @ 2:42pm by Lieutenant JG Rachael "Ripcord" Yamaguchi-Cullen & Jillian "Phoenix" Sullivan

Mission: Mission 15: Old Ghosts
Location: Various Locations - USS Roanke
Timeline: 0800Hrs - December 2nd, 2390

Rachael Yamaguchi smiled softly as she watched Phoenix enter the room, she leapt to her feet along with everyone else as she saluted the woman who had been training her to fly the various starfighters.

Rachael sighed softly as she heard the older woman explain today's assignments, mostly the usual, just CQUALS and trapping aboard, once Rachael heard Phoenix explain what she wanted the others to do.

She smiled as she dismissed everyone but asked the cadets to stick around, moments later she found herself face to face with Phoenix.
"Colonel." Rachael regarded the older woman as she saluted her.

"You more than anyone, know it's Phoenix." Jill shook her head in disbelief. "Tane wanted the junior flight cadet corps program here, given this ship is a carrier. I wanted your thoughts on the new kids."

Rachael raised an eyebrow as she regarded the woman before her, she a very short time a rookie herself. "Well lets see.... do you have their flight records on hand?" the teenager inquired.

Phoenix handed Rachael the PADD with all the cadets' stat on it. "Did you get to tour the ship yet?"

"No Phoenix." Rachael answered honestly. "I've been aboard only a few hours... since this morning actually." she added.

"Siaxx an' I haven't toured around much either. But I know the layout of this ship," Phoenix told Rachael with dark eyes. "Tane's fighter carrier packs a punch an' was well-known durin' the war. Captain Kex Levi was a spectacular carrier commander. Invited lots of fighter squadrons to party on his hangar deck after a major fleet win."

Rachael had no idea of who the Captain in question was, the look on her face said as much but rather then pry. "Must have been one hell of a battle..." the teenager commented.

"Several... His best party I missed, when I lost my arm at the retaking of DS9," Phoenix spoke almost mournfully. "But this ship nearly got destroyed, not too long after that. It's why some in the fleet think the Roanoke is cursed... Lots of souls perished when the ship was found adrift, after the 15th Fleet got sacked. It was repaired eventually but mothballed not long after, with the ending of the war and the fleet not needing so many war ships."

"I never bothered to do any looking into this ships history." Rachael responded. "I guess I should do that." the teenager admitted. "So... who do you need help weeding out?"

"Why don't we call this a task that you will do as part of your leadership training," Phoenix suggested with a smile. "In fact, I'll let you assign your cadet squadron. I want reasons why you cut the ones you do. And you'll defend your squadron... So it'll be a debate skill. Convince me why your final list is the best list."

Then Phoenix pulled up her flight roster, separated by squadrons. "Each squadron is built a certain way, overall. My scorpion pilots, for example, have some sort of special forces training, so that they function on the ground when we need to sneak in somewhere. So each squadron has a unique function."

Rachael shook her head. "Phoenix... This is not a good idea..." the teenager commented. "I need more stick time and some of these guys are further along then I am, if this were Starbase 400 then I'd be ahead of the pack but this is a different class... I'm not up for a Squadron Command..... My test scores and the like has me good for a flight but not a squad." she paused. "unless you're making changes."

"I'm not," Phoenix spoke with an easy smile. "It is command training though... Sorta. I'm not giving you a due date for the assignment because it's not a graded exercise. But it is one that tests judgement and debate skills."

Rachael nodded her head. "Alright..." she commented evenly. "When and where do I carry out this assignment?" the teenager inquired.

"You can use the pilot's briefing room to study flight logs, and I'll give you access to the wing's roster. So you can do this anywhere you like," Phoenix offered as she handed Rachael a stack of PADDS. "You'll also be getting more simulator hours, if you want. So that we get you up to snuff."

Rachael accepted the PADD's as she regarded the older woman before a smile appeared on the teenagers face. "I won't have too much fun..."
she commented. "Whos the most senior of this pile of miscreants?"

"Lieutenant Jaxx, I think," Phoenix guessed with a shrug.

"I'd like to see how they operate inside gravity wells." the teen grinned. "Next to black holes... you know what I want..."

"It you want to fly around black holes in the simulator, you're free to do so," Phoenix laughed lightly.

"Its not for me Phoenix..." Rachael then grinned at the other woman. "Its for them... some are ahead of me only because they have more stick time... but I'm a much better pilot."

"You aren't that far behind," Phoenix spoke honestly. "Most of these pilots washed out of other squadrons because of personality conflicts or because they didn't hit the right bars experienced pilots should. So the Roanoke has by average, mediocre pilots under my care."

Rachael slowly grinned. "So you can whip them into shape." the teenager explained as she glanced over the roster. "We have a squadron of cadets..... if you are okay with it. I'll go round them up and see how good these miscreants are.."

"Remember that I want you to enjoy yourself more than anything else," Phoenix cautioned the young teen.

Rachael nodded her head. "Okay I'll do that..." she responded with a smile. "I'll make them sweat.."

"I wont pile responsibility on ya that you don' want, Rachael," Phoenix promised the girl. "But I do wanna train ya so that you at least are aware of what those in responsibility, do in the wing.

"Thank you Phoenix." Rachael smiled up at the taller woman. "I'd also like to get the pilots to spend some time being mechanics.... so if it breaks, they can at least try to fix it."

"That sounds like a good idea, actually," Phoenix agreed. "I usually just jury rig shit."

Rachael nodded despite herself. "I'll talk to one of the crew Chief's and see if I can arrange some time for it." the teen responded.

"Well you're part of the fighter corps now. So you can have as much time in the simulators as you like," Phoenix promised.

Rachael smiled. "Lovely, thank you Phoenix." she paused. "Do you have anything special for me?"

"Make sure you get a fair amount of rack time," Phoenix spoke with a warm smile. "You come home tired, and your mom will send my lady after me."

Rachael looked up at Phoenix. "My mom worries way too much..." she sighed. "but alright... I'll do that... I'll start this workload tomorrow night after school.." she explained.

"Get going then," Phoenix smiled, then pat Rachael lightly on the back.

Rachael regarded the older woman as she slowly nodded her head. "Thank you Phoenix" she said simply.